Violent Quenching: Molecular Gas Blown to 1000 km s-1 during a Major Merger
Publication Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Document Type
Article
Department or Program
Physics and Astronomy
Publication Date
8-2018
Keywords
galaxies: Active, galaxies: evolution, galaxies: general, galaxies: starburst, ISM: kinematics and dynamics
Abstract
We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of a massive () compact ( pc) merger remnant at z = 0.66 that is driving a 1000 km s-1 outflow of cool gas, with no observational trace of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We resolve molecular gas on scales of approximately 1-2 kpc, and our main finding is the discovery of a wing of blueshifted CO J(2 → 1) emission out to-1000 km s-1 relative to the stars. We argue that this is the molecular component of a multiphase outflow, expelled from the central starburst within the past 5 Myr through stellar feedback, although we cannot rule out previous AGN activity as a launching mechanism. If the latter is true, then this is an example of a relic multiphase AGN outflow. We estimate a molecular mass outflow rate of approximately 300 M o yr-1, or about one third of the 10 Myr-Averaged star formation rate. This system epitomizes the multiphase "blowout" episode following a dissipational major merger-a process that has violently quenched central star formation and supermassive black hole growth.
Recommended Citation
Geach, J. E., Tremonti, C., Diamond-Stanic, A. M., Sell, P. H., Kepley, A. A., Coil, A. L., Rudnick, G., Hickox, R. C., Moustakas, J., & Yang, Y. (2018). Violent Quenching: Molecular Gas Blown to 1000 km s−1 during a Major Merger. Astrophysical Journal. Letters, 864(1), L1–.
Comments
Original version is available from the publisher at: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aad8b6